foreign ambassadors. The Bishop called on the people participate in the upcoming presidential election peacefully. In February 2015, Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Bishop of Dili. Bishop da Silva died of brain cancer on 2 April 2015. On January 30, 2016, he was succeeded by Virgílio do Carmo da Silva who was appointed by Pope Francis as Bishop of Dili. In April 2016, the East Timor Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo praised the late Bishop da Silva as well as other Church leaders for their "invaluable and unselfish contribution" in the country's struggle for independence. He was speaking at a Mass to celebrate the first anniversary of the bishop's death. References External links Alberto Ricardo da Silva Freedom Collection interview 1943 births 2015 deaths People from Aileu District 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in East Timor Roman Catholic bishops of Dili